Newark Mayor Cory Booker, perhaps New Jersey's highest-profile Democrat, announced yesterday that he will not challenge Chris Christie for the governorship of New Jersey next year and instead is eyeing a run for U.S. Senate in 2014.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, whose term expires in 2014, has not said if he plans to run for re-election.

"Let there be no doubt, I will complete my full second term as mayor," Booker, 43, said in a statement posted on Facebook and linked to on Twitter. "As for my political future, I will explore the possibility of running for the United States Senate in 2014."

Launtenberg, who is 88, declined to comment yesterday on Booker's announcement or his future plans.

Lautenberg's spokesman, Caley Gray, said in a statement that the senator is concentrating now on recovery from Superstorm Sandy and on gun control laws, the Associated Press reported.

Political junkies were pining for a political slugfest between Christie and Booker next year. But Booker ducked that battle.

Now the question is, has he made himself a lame duck mayor too soon. He's had a hard enough time getting cooperation from the Newark City Council as things stand.